Worldwide Endometriosis March

Posted by: Saschan Fearon

On the 25th March 2017 the fourth annual Worldwide Endometriosis March will be taking place across the globe to help raise awareness about endometriosis and its impact upon the lives of an estimated 176 million women who battle with it each day. SO we thought we’d bring you the low down on everything endo!

Endo-what?

The endo march provides a collective opportunity and global platform for those affected by endometriosis to come together. Personally we think the march is a wonderful and vibrant representation of a fraction of the number of women who suffer with this life changing disease. So what exactly is endometriosis?

en.do.me.tri.o.sis (en′dōmē′trē·ō′sis)

[Greek,endon + metra,womb,osis,condition]

Endometriosis is a condition in which bits of the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow in other parts of the body. Like the uterine lining, this tissue builds up and sheds in response to monthly hormonal cycles. However, there is no natural outlet for the blood discarded from these implants. Instead, it falls onto surrounding organs, causing swelling and inflammation. This repeated irritation leads to the development of scar tissue and adhesions in the area of the endometrial implants.

Endometriosis is estimated to affect 10% of women worldwide . It most commonly strikes between the ages of 25 and 40. Endometriosis can also appear in the teen years, but never before the start of menstruation. It is seldom seen in postmenopausal women.

I Spy… The Signs & Symptoms To Look Out For

Because endometriosis manifests itself in a variety of ways and often shares symptoms with other common condition getting a swift and accurate diagnosis can be difficult and lengthy. Scans, blood tests and internal examinations are not an effective way of diagnosing the disease and women require a laparoscopy to truly determine whether they have endo or not.

Some of the common symptoms of endo are:

Heavy and irregular bleeding

Pelvic area pain and inflammation

Pain during or after sex (sometimes accompanied by bleeding)

Painful bowel movements

Fatigue

If you think you have any of these symptoms and are concerned make sure you speak to your GP about your worries. If you don’t feel like you’ve been given good advice don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion especially if you have been experiencing these symptoms for a long time. You DESERVE to know what is going on with your body so that you can plan your lifestyle and map your wellness accordingly.

So how can you get involved in this year’s endo march?…

Who What What What Where?

This year there are 4 events happening across the UK! We’ve listed them below so you can take a peek at the one’s closest to you and get involved we’ll be joining 46 countries worldwide who are taking part in the endomarch.